SHRAP GANG MAFIA (where are they Now?)
I wish I can relive the first 10minutes of hearing this cypher,heck I wish I can relive 2019 as an year.But where are these dope artists that made a banger that would be used by a unknown blogger claiming to be the future cornerstone of the Kenyan Entetainment scene? That would me in case I am not being clear.As an ardent worshipper of Kenyan Music,I really get invested in the showbiz of our artists,Kimbelembele is what Kilundeezy said I possess,anyway I don't doubt him either.In this article I try to give you an insight of how these amazing artists have progressed over years and if they hit the commercial ceiling.ooh and SHRAP is basically (Sheng + Rap)
Boring Backstory
I will begin with a story of how I first encountered AD Family.Back in 2015 through a brand called "Team Stoner" on their facebook wall,I was a youngin in High School cranking some mad pot and this was a Merchandise brand advocating for the use.It was started by DJ Mawinch and the AD Family,so I DMd them explaining how I felt nice for seeing a group of people I related with.I didn't even know their music then ,first forward first year in Campus ,I started listening to Shrap,after connecting the dots.Any of my friends know I either influenced them to listen to SHRAP more or I introduced them to it.
The success of SHRAP and/or lack of the same for ADFamily is a combination of professional creatives that believe in their craft.I will not delve into details but with a team led by Musau Mumo,one of the most proffessional artist managers I know,they were bound for greatness.
MusaMumo
Other like minded creatives have contributed to their excellence is DJ Slim B, DJ Mawinch ,The Shrap DJ himself,who has always kept us up to date with SHRAP mixxes.Mawinch rebranded Team Stoner to "Renots" a merch business that is doing well.
Muss their manager,Jimmito (a rapper friend of mine) ,Dj Mawinch or even Boutross himself can bear witness of a Whatsapp Group created in 2018/19 to help push SHRAP music in Campus,that was me.I attended SHRAPNITE events and followed them around Nairobi because I was star struck .First time I saw Jovie Jovv at Nai West during Shrapnite 2018 i couldn't believe my eyes.
SHRAP GANG MAFIA was a rendition of Khali Cartel 2,Khali Cartel is a big deal and being on Khali Cartel is a big deal.Timmy n Twenny ,the pioneer "kilimani rappers" were on Khali Kartel that year.The Already existing beef between TnT and the Shrap Gang at that time was escalated due to this.There was even a time TnT jumped Barak Jacuzzi in his crib I guess.
Coincidentally there was beef between Afrocentric and ADF,Katapilla being featured on Khali Cartel was not helping the case either.The Nairobi West rappers felt the need to respond and show they were better and in my honest opinion I think the Shrap Gang Mafia was better.I know I know you want to throw stones,but for underground artists ,the cypher was a big success..Anyway this was a cypher of AD Family,Jovie Jovv,Barak Jakuzzi and the goat himself kutoka Tough Klan,Breeder LW.Its been 5 years, and alot has happened in the industry.There has literally been waves of genres ,Gengetone came and dipped a bit,Amapiano craziness pedalled back to Mzansi and Fufu has become an household dish due to Afrobeats playing in every radio station...but where are they now?
AD Family
ADF is made up of Boutross,Dope I Mean and ,Kay Green , one of the coldest rappers of our times. Boutross was the most promising Of the three artists and always likely to go commercial .I think Musau told Kay Green and Dope to just chill for Boutross to succeed commercially and then they recharge as a group.A good artist manager can do miracles ,and Musau is exactly that.
ADF had an EP called TAHTAJ with stupendous jams like Juiceman remix with Sho Madjozi, Bonoko,TAHTAJ (Turn a hobby to a job)... amazing Shrap Music.Just for context ,ADF was the Nairobi west Wakadinali,a group with a new sound in town ,targeting a specific audience.The versatility in the group can be likened to wakadinali,consistency just threw them off.
5 years later though ,
Boutross has made tremendous strides in the industry.No lie Bouti is among the most promising artists from the 254.First off was the Empawa deal that helped him release WRONG,which ironically fell in the right hands.Story Ilianza Like this endeared Munene to campus students and he did some campus tours,yaani Boutross was made to be a star,jamaa ni msanii tu ukimcheki.In 2019 Boutross released an Album 6viewsii8k .I believe this was his breakout project because it had bangers n bangers,there is a song he samples "juju" by Nameless.David Mathenge was stupefied during the listening party when he heard it.In the cypher Boutross lashes at Dj Pinye and Katapilla of Afrocentric,he extends an olive branch to TnT though ,he raps "sina shida na hao maboy wa kileh,me ni ngori na msee anabonga kama Dj Pinye,talking about how you reppin the culture na tunajua ni vishasha..."
In a brief amount of time, Boutross Munene has been able to establish himself as a future star and legend in the African Entertainment scene. After being featured by Octopizzo on the song "Tergat Gang" with fellow artist Barack Jacuzzi, Boutross gained attention and he continued to put in the work. Kay Green and Dope can be seen in the background of the footage and ironically,t has remained to be like that as they are in his shadow till date.Just last month,Munene was on the headlines for the wrong reasons.Karibu Edgar Obare afanye ile kitu.Angela has been a hit for months,He made a song so big that Konshens asked for a remix,that is huge! One thing I appreciate about Bouti is his delivery on quality videos for his songs.Maybe following the footsteps of his mentor,Octopizzo,who has the cleanest videos in the 254.
So where is Kay Green and Dope I Mean ? We used to joke that dope looks like Quavo,he actually does haha.Dope did an album in 2018 called Shambala,pure flames.Stream Shambala Spotify .The man has flow and sing along bars for sure.Of late he has been releasing singles like Do Re Mi .Musically he is lagging behind Boutross and the rest of the Mafia in numbers on all Digital Streaming Platforms and showbiz shenanigans.I believe if he is consistent and manipulates Boutross Influence,he can still hit the airwaves hard.
(Dope I Mean perfoming in Jinja Uganda)
Kay Green reminds me of Gkon,a kapuka master rapper who rented the airwaves in the 2010's.I used to listen to Gkon in primary school and his flows were mad.Kay Green is arguably among the best lyricists in Kenya while also displaying his vocals in songs like Bonoko.In the Cypher he tells off the manager of Ethic,who was accused of fleecing the boys at the time.The boy got bars for days.If you have listened to his EP Planet Green, songs like Konichiwa and Pogo Stick,you know Kay Green is talented.The only problem is that he is not consistent.The last single he released was in 2022 and Just three other singles on his spotify too.Boutross is so far ahead of them fanbase wise and on listeners ,because Kaygreen has 538 spotify listeners and Dope has them in the tens.I don't think they are entirely done with doing music or that we have seen the last of them,I think Boutross will fetch them once the money settles.
(Mr Green)
Jovie Jovv
He has been fondly referred to as the founder of SHRAP music,he coined the name even,I heard.During my early times of listening to Shrap i was bamboozled by Jovie when I saw him at the DeepWest lounge Nai West,That night me and my compadres had a hell of a night cus these guys gave us a perfomance of a lifetime.Jovvie was the highlight,but he has since been left behind by his compadres.When you picture when they started Jovvie,Boutross ,Benzema,Wakadinali ,TnT,Assum Gavey and many more you can see the strides they have made.Boutross and Wakadinali in particular.They have managed to curve out a niche that only them can manouever .But Jovvie fell off a bit,If he is a little more consistent he will be a beast,gladly Jovvie is still doing numbers though.
In 2020 he released his album DWMD which was nothing short of flames.The feautures in this album from Callivan creatives are stupendous.From Domani Mkadinali to Valerie Muthoni,to the most surprising of all ,TnT! He actually did two songs with Timmy Blanco on the Album,a great feat and show of maturity from both artists.His latest project is Client Sumbua released in March 2023.
Barak Jacuzzi
Barak Jacuzzi aka "Cuzzi" or "Mo Juice" is an artist, entertainer, recording artist, hiphop pioneer, hype man, digital influencer and fashion Icon from Nairobi and South Carolina. Cuzzi is best known as the first artist signed by Octopizzo ,and they have done alot of projects together including Tergat Gang and Che Che.By the time they dropped Shrap Gang Mafia,Barak Was the biggest of them all ,Barak was in mainstream still Killing it.
Breeder LW
The man of the hour,the ring leader from Tough Klan,Papa Fathela himself,Breeder LW.This mammoth of a rapper is Khaligraph Jones regen,he reeks of Khaligraphness ,his rapstyle,stale sense of dressing and pride.Its like Ronaldo and Mbappe,a clear copy of Brian Omollo.Talent wise though,he is miles ahead of Omollo and has a higher ceiling .I started listening to Breeder immediately before he released an Album called Kabla Kuosa.
This album has songs like si tafadhali ft Kayvo Kforce,Subiri Mzoga "ukishindwa kuwinda subiri mzoga" ,Haraka Upesi ft the amazing Tony Syumah .His unique style of rap has made him one of the best rappers in East Africa right now.Picture a blend of Darassa and Khaligraph,or Roma and Stamina if they were 1 person.My point is ,Breeder LW has grown as an artist tremendously,I have watched him transform into a beast in the commercial sector.In this cypher he sneaks a diss at Wakadinali by saying "Marapper ka scar hutry kurap ka mimi kila saa,but nachill juu kucopy pia ni skill".I know they just laugh at some of these disses .
His burst into Mainstream was propagated Do Re Mi ft Benzema, his verse on Khali Cartel,which also led to the collabo with Khaligraph in the song "Joh ni Kubaya"
Breeder just like his mentor,is a very hardworking artist and he is always on playlists with new music
He has released two albums namely Bazenga Mentality in 2021 and Vibes & Ting in 2022.He has not achieved half the things he can achieve.Tough klan finest is on a mission to talk Africa best rapper title.
Verdict
I am this invested in these artists because I feel like I started their musical journey with them.I have seen them grow as artists in the Industry.I mean we don't know each other personally, but it is personal for me.
Hence, I can say An artists success is judged by one thing,business.According to the happenings of the last 5 years,since they released this masterpiece,this is how I can judge the artist success of the 5 GOATS.Breeder turned out to be the most successful while Kay Green has been very very dormant.
1.Breeder
2.Boutross
3.Barak Jacuzzi
4.Dope I Mean
5.Kay Green
The views and opinions herein are purely personal.
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